In a decisive move towards bolstering digital connectivity, Openreach, in collaboration with the Scottish Government’s ambitious £600 million Reaching 100% programme, has successfully upgraded approximately 2,500 households and businesses in South Ayrshire. As part of the R100 rollout, full fibre technology has now reached 40,000 of Scotland’s most challenging-to-connect properties, marking a substantial leap forward in providing ultra-fast and reliable broadband connections.
Recent developments in Ballantrae, Joppa, Maybole, and Symington showcase the program’s effectiveness, with ongoing groundwork in Straiton and additional homes in Troon poised to receive the next wave of upgrades. Full fibre broadband, surpassing speeds over 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s initial commitment for superfast services, signifies a significant technological leap for residents in South Ayrshire.
Residents can check the availability of full fibre in their area and register for updates at www.openreach.co.uk/ultrafastfullfibre, a crucial step that aids Openreach in efficiently planning deployments based on community demand. Once full fibre becomes available, residents can seamlessly arrange for their service to be upgraded through their chosen providers.
Scottish Government Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead emphasized the importance of full fibre upgrades for homes and businesses in locations like Lendalfoot and Mauchline. Lochhead highlighted the R100 contracts’ role in delivering future-proofed digital infrastructure, supporting economic growth and enhancing the economic prospects of communities across Scotland.
Full fibre broadband, known for providing reliable, resilient, and future-proof connections, boasts fewer faults, consistent speeds, and ample capacity to meet the ever-growing data demands across multiple devices. Its impact extends to various online activities at home, including data-intensive streaming of movies, sports, TV, and online gaming. For businesses, an ultra-reliable connection contributes to productivity, efficiency, and security, supporting day-to-day tasks such as video calls, cloud applications, online banking, and customer experiences.
Robert Thorburn, Openreach Partnership Director for Scotland, highlighted the R100 program’s commitment to bringing fast and reliable broadband to the most challenging locations in Scotland. Acknowledging the complexity of the build, Thorburn stressed the collaboration with South Ayrshire Council and build partners to minimize disruption to residents. The extensive civil undertaking may involve installing new poles, ducts, and cables, emphasizing the importance of local awareness regarding the ongoing infrastructure improvements.
